WESTPHALIA - The Harvest Baseball Tournament returns after a five-year hiatus in 2016, according to event organizer Tom Wageman, and will be held on two weekends, August 27-28 and September 3-4, in Westphalia. Begun in 1964 under the leadership of Wageman’s late father, John, the annual tournament featured teams from across the state. Playing in the tourney were many professional, semi-pro and college ball players.

 DES MOINES -- It’s been nearly two months to the day since Harlan Community beat Sioux City Bishop Heelan 12-0 to cap the first week of the high school baseball season. When the Cyclones and Crusaders meet again Tuesday morning (11 a.m.) in the first round of the Class 3-A state tournament, a much more competitive contest is expected at Principal Park. HCHS certainly has the edge when it comes to big-game experience, boasting three seniors an

 DES MOINES -- Tri-Center was defeated by Don Bosco of Gilbertville 11-1 in six innings in a Class 1-A quarterfinal at the State Baseball Tournament Saturday night. The sixth-seeded Trojans, who finished 19-9 overall, were making their first trip to Principal Park and their first state tournament appearance since winning the Class 2-A state title in 1987.

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community head baseball coach Steve Daeges was recognized prior to the team’s July 11 home game vs. Abraham Lincoln and presented a commemorative plaque for reaching 600 career wins earlier this season. Now in his 23rd year at HCHS, Daeges enters this week’s state tournament with a career record of 606-206 (.746).

HCHS now has 27 state titles in nine sports. See Sports inside the Tuesday, August 2.

    GRINNELL - Scott Goetzinger, 55, Grinnell, died on Friday, July 29 at his home.

    LEHIGH - A memorial service will be held at a later date for Terry Wiig, Lehigh, Iowa. Wiig died Tues., July 26 in Iowa City.      Survivors include: his mother, Margaret Wiig, Harlan; brothers Gene (Julienne) Wiig, Kirkman and Larry Wiig, Council Bluffs and one sister, Cathy (Gene) Cavenaugh, Harlan.

    EARLING -- As Pat Hoffmann sat and observed the sunset across his fields one evening, he noticed one isolated oak tree without a leaf on its branches and he began to smile.    Lonely Oak would become the name of his new distillery. He frantically called his wife, Amy, with the exciting news after so long trying to find a name for their company.    “It’s a dream and it’s here,” Pat said. 

    REGIONAL – The number of registered sex offenders that call the greater Shelby County area their home has decreased in the past two years, according to Iowa’s state sex offender registry.    Shelby County and areas surrounding the county have 26 registered sex offenders as of this month, as opposed to fall, 2014 when there were 36 registered sex offenders listed in the area.  Some offenders are new to the area while others remain on the li